Enterprise IT Application Systems Agility and Organizational Agility

Enterprise information technology (IT) application systems are conceived and implemented to help organizations to reduce costs and improve efficiency. However, the continuously changing environment, competitive market, and emerging technology require IT application systems to be more agile to accommodate the changes. In this paper, we link the enterprise IT application technical agility (Byrd and turner, 2000) with organizational agility (Sambamurthy, Bharadwaj and Grover, 2003). We propose that IT application modularity, IT connectivity, and IT compatibility (IT application technical agility) affect customer agility, partnering agility and operational and decision making agility (organizational agility). Measurements for IT application technical agility and organizational agility, an empirical study design as well as data analysis method are discussed. This study extends our knowledge of agile enterprise IT applications and organizational agility. This study will also benefit practitioners by identifying how technical enterprise IT agility affects organizational agility

The Relationship Between IT Infastructure and Strategic Agility in Organizations

This article looks at the relationship between the Information Technology (IT) infrastructure and organizations agility requirements. The concept of IT infrastructure agility has captured the attention of researchers and practitioners. Although the importance of IT infrastructure agility has been established, the development of a valid, reliable instrument to measure this construct has not been reported in the literature. The purpose of this paper is to better define the IT infrastructure agility construct and to develop a valid and reliable measurement instrument for this construct. We develop a unique survey scale to measure IT infrastructure agility and organizational agility requirements. The organizational agility requirement metrics were developed to measure customer agility, partnering agility and operational agility. IT infrastructure agility was measured on the basis of its connectivity, compatibility, modularity and capability characteristics. Based on these measures we will look at the “fit” between organizational agility requirements and the existing IT infrastructure

A Conceptual Model of Recommender System for Algorithm Selection

Classifier selection process implies mastering a lot of background information on the dataset, the model and the algorithms in question. We suggest that a recommender system can reduce this effort by registering background information and the knowledge of the expert. In this study we propose such a system and take a first look on how it can be done. We compare various classifiers against different datasets and then come up with the most appropriate classifier for a particular dataset based on its unique characteristic

Antecedents of Customer Loyalty in the Online Shopping Environment

Literature has stressed the importance of customer retention (loyalty) as it is considered to be a vital source in attaining not only competitive advantage but also improved business performance. A number of studies on online shopping behavior have indirectly related customer satisfaction to repurchase intention. But very few studies have explicitly studied the relationship between customer satisfaction and customer loyalty in the online environment. However, recently researchers have argued that customer satisfaction may not be a good indicator of customer loyalty and suggested that perceived value may be a better predictor. In other words, “distinct value propositions” could be used to develop customer loyalty. Therefore, in this paper, we study the relationship between perceived value (developed via web technologies) and customer loyalty. We propose that relational benefits factors formulate the “distinct value propositions” (perceived value) needed to generate customer loyalty in the online environment

Consumer Acceptance of Online Digital Music Store

While the innovation of online digital music stores represents a revolution in the entertainment industry, there is little rigorous academic research that examines the IT aspects of the movement. In this study, we investigate the salient factors that will affect consumers’ acceptance of online digital music stores. Based on the Personal Trait theory, Technology Acceptance Model, and Psychology Flow theory, we propose an integrated conceptual model to explain the emerging phenomena. A simulated lab experiment design and PLS as data analysis method are discussed. The main contribution of this work is theoretical that we identify the factors that may inhibit and promote consumer acceptance of online digital music stores. We demonstrate a way to integrate multiple theories to address the issue. This research extends our understanding of the adoption of online digital music stores. Moreover, the test of the model may assist online digital music stores in improving consumer acceptance

Comparison of efficacy of azithromycin plus levamisole versus azithromycin alone in the treatment of moderate to severe acne

Objective To compare the efficacy of azithromycin plus levamisole versus azithromycin alone in the treatment of moderate to severe acne. Patients and methods Ninety patients with moderate to severe acne were divided into two groups. Group A was given oral azithromycin 500mg/day, three days a week, plus oral levamisole 150mg/day, two days a week and group B was given oral azithromycin 500mg/day, three days a week. Patients were followed up at 4th and 8th week for efficacy and tolerability. Results Efficacy of treatment in Group A (given azithromycin plus levamisole) was seen in 36 (80%) patients while in Group B (oral azithromycin alone) efficacy was seen in 27 (60%) patients (p-value = 0.048). Conclusion Combination therapy with oral azithromycin plus levamisole is more efficacious as compared to oral azithromycin alone in the treatment of moderate to severe acne vulgaris. Key words Acne, azithromycin, levamisole. DOI: 10.7176/JMPB/58-05 Publication date: August 31st 201

Entrepreneurial passion and product innovation intensity in new ventures : mediating effects of exploration and exploitation activities

In this paper, we examine the differential effects of entrepreneurial passion (EP) on product innovation intensity through the mediating mechanisms of exploration and exploitation activities. Using time-lagged data from 260 new ventures from Ghana, we examine the direct relationships between the three domains of EP (i.e., inventing, developing and founding) and a new venture’s product innovation intensity (PII). Further, we test the indirect relationships between the three domains of EP and PII through the mediating mechanisms of a new venture’s exploration and exploitation activities. The empirical results provide a fine-grained understanding of the relationship between EP, exploration and exploitation activities and PII. Implications for theory and practice are also discussed

Perceived institutional support and small venture performance: The mediating role of entrepreneurial persistence

YesThis article examines the entrepreneurial persistence of opportunity-motivated entrepreneurs in Ghana. Specifically, it develops a theoretical model focusing on the relationships among perceived institutional support, entrepreneurial persistence and small venture performance, including how entrepreneurial networks condition the relationship between institutional support and entrepreneurial persistence. Using time-lagged data from 373 opportunity-motivated entrepreneurs leading small ventures in Ghana, we find broad support for our hypotheses. The insights from our study provide an integrative understanding of the relationships among perceived institutional support, entrepreneurial persistence and venture performance in an adverse environment. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed